Castiel makes it clear it’s not possible and Dean believes there has to be a way. In the meantime, Sam is ready to remind them he’s in the room and has a say in things. “So, are you going to untie me?” “No!” Dean abruptly answers. Oh, let’s just go through the whole transcript here. It’s pretty good.
Sam: Listen, I’m not gonna-
Dean: How am I even supposed to let you out of this room?
Sam: Dean, I’m not some psycho. I didn’t want you to get hurt. I was just trying to stop the vamps. (Tries real hard to seem sincere, but he falls a bit short) I’m sorry. Don’t want ever happen again. Please let me go.
Dean: You’re kidding, right?
Sam: What are you going to do, just keep me locked up here forever?
Dean: You say that like it’s a bad thing.
Sam: Okay fine, look I get it. I get it, I was wrong. But I’m telling you, I’m trying to get right. It’s still me.
Dean: Is it?
Sam: Yes, so just let me go.
Dean: No way in Hell.
Sam: (sighs, ready for plan B) I didn’t want it to come to this. (Unties the rope and stands up). You’re not going to hold me Dean. Not here, not in the panic room, not anywhere. You’re stuck with the soulless guy so you might as well work with me. Let’s fix this.
I have to say, soullessness has improved Sam’s ability to deal with Dean. He isn’t afraid to speak his mind. Before, he was so apprehensive and closed mouth with Dean most of the time. He’d only stand up for himself when pushed. I hope he keeps this sensibility when he eventually gets his soul back. I also love how he tries to reason with Dean first, but doesn’t quite have that puppy dog magic as before to win him over. Standing up, literally, both out of the chair and for his rights, human or not, is a pretty cool statement.
Dean realizes Sam is right, but bro isn’t getting off that easy. “I’m going to be watching every move you make.” “Fine, sounds about right to me.” Dean then tells Cas to clean him up. How convenient to beat the crap out of your brother and then have your buddy angel come along to make it all better. Do over! Those are some nifty connections. Cas touches Sam and he’s pretty again. Whew, that’s a relief.
Dean is ready to declare the next move. “Alright, if we’re going to figure out what happened to your soul then we need to find who yanked you out.” Sam has no idea who it was. “Then we start a list. If it’s so hard to spring someone out of the box then who’s got that kind of muscle?” Castiel doesn’t know. He confirms with Sam that he has no memories of his resurrection. Nope, woke up in a field, that’s all. No clues? There’s one! Guess where the brothers are road tripping?
The Impala enters the Campbell compound and their vehicle is quite unmistakeable. Sam and Dean enter the building, where everyone is prepping weapons for something big. “Gramps threw a BBQ and left us off the Evite list?” Dean jokes. Yeah Dean, you’re social poison in the Campbell family these days. Although, you have by far the best sense of humor. They’re probably threatened by that. Case in point, Christian comes up and greets Sam with a smile and a hug. What does Dean do? “Hello Newman.” That’s awesome! Christian doesn’t get it. What, Parker Lewis never watched Seinfeld? That’s exactly what me and thousands of others would say to an uncomfortable rival in a world where we have to peacefully co-exist.
They go off to Samuel’s office, who’s sitting in there alone staring longingly at a picture. Oh no, not the longing picture stare! That’s a classic sign in any form of entertainment that grandpa’s hidden agenda involves a loved one. I’m not sure whether to be relieved or disappointed. Dean barges in without knocking, but Samuel manages to get the picture in the desk in time. “Come right on in,” grandpa says dryly.
Dean doesn’t waste anytime with a greeting, telling him they need to ask him a few questions. He asks what’s wrong, but Dean isn’t going there. “The day you got back, what happened?” Samuel reminds Dean they’d been through this before. “Well recap it for our wing man.” Next thing Castiel is standing right behind Samuel. Oh, cool, gramps gets to meet Cass. “This Castiel?” Cass nods. “You’re scrawnier than I pictured.” Castiel isn’t going to stand for that, but I guess smiting is not on the agenda today. “This is a vessel. My true form is approximately the size of your Chrysler building.” Godzilla Cass. Trying to get that one out of my head.
Grandpa stays smug, but Dean breaks it up. “Alright, alright, quit bragging.” Oh come on Dean, he’s barely getting started. Dean goes on with Samuel. “You were dead and…” “And pow I was at Elton Ridge. Don’t know how, don’t know why.” You see, that’s a statement of perspective. That’s very true when it happened. He knows now, but he didn’t then. He’s answering the question the way Dean put it. He tells them he’s got nothing to hide. Dean asks if he minds if Castiel double checks. Cass rolls up his sleeve, not waiting for permission. Oh grandpa, you should have really asked what’s coming.
Out in the compound is Christian who hears Samuel yelling in extreme agony. I guess he didn’t get a belt like Sam did. Probably because he made a remark about Castiel’s height. That’s what happens when you piss off angels grandpa! Christian storms in but Sam and Dean hold him back, letting him know everything is okay. Grandpa is hanging onto a wall in extreme pain and Cas is fixing his sleeve back up. “Angel cavity search,” Dean explains. Grandpa let’s Christian know things are fine and to give them some time. He needs the reason for being violated by an angel.
“His soul’s intact,” Castiel says. Oh, that’s a relief, I think. Judging by the look on Sam’s face, maybe not. Samuel thinks the idea he doesn’t have a soul is nuts, but then sees Castiel looking at a solemn Sam. “What’s going on Sam?” “Whatever dragged me out left a piece behind.” Um, yeah, a piece. Only your moral center, feelings, the very fiber of your being, but okay. I’d say more of a chunk. Samuel sighs and Sam and Dean are curious if he knew. No, but he sure suspected something. “You’re a hell of a hunter Sam but the truth is, sometimes you scare me.” Sam looks mildly offended, but not too much. Logically that must make sense to him, but it’s probably strange for him to hear it. Old Sammy would have had those hurt eyes.
Awesome review! I’m lost on the souless rules as well. But then, as far as we know, this is pretty much a first. So maybe SPN feels comfortable making up their own rules.
I thought the lady in the window who called to Dean and went bloody, was one of the hunters back at the Campbell compound. And Montana does the internet!!! Promise!
Alice, great job as always.
No matter what, Dean still cares for Sam, he wanted Cas to heal Sam right away. Have to love Dean for that.
I don’t know which I like more NoBS!Dean or BadAss!Cas when it comes to dealing with Gramps. 😀
As a fan of ‘Smallville’ since day one, I also saw the farm and thought that Sam and Dean were going to pay Clark and Co. a visit. Wouldn’t that be funny. 🙂
(Jason Teague may have been shot by Lionel Luther, but he was really killed by Dean Winchester). 😀
Just because Gramps is ‘family’, that doesn’t mean that he is FAMILY. (does that make sense?) Just because he is a Campbell, that doesn’t mean that Dean has to trust him, no questions asked.
I agree, some episodes require multi viewings. What you may not catch the first time, or may not make sense, when you watch the episode again, then it becomes clear.
I agree with your opinion of Gwen (or is it Glen Campbell? 😀 Bobby did have Kenny Rodgers on his episode). I think she is nothing like Hunter!Mary. I personally think that H!Mary would have wiped the floor and (dare I say) ceiling with Gwen.
‘Sam and Dean follow in a car that sticks out like a sore thumb’: two words: CLOAKING DEVICE 😀 😀
‘Sam is BFF’s with a demon’ DAH!!! 😆 😆
We now know that even before Ruby, anyone that Sam considered a friend had a 99.99% chance of being a demon. Poor Sammy.
Can’t wait til your recap of this week’s ep. The end reminded me of the end of ‘Good God’. Do you agree? The heart to heart (chick flick moment) at the picnic table.